3. Semiramis

Public Domain

Semiramis was a warrior queen in the ancient city of Babylon back around the ninth century BC (or at least she probably was). So many fantastic legends surround her name that separating historical fact from hysterical fiction is impossible, but this doesn’t prevent us from reveling in her legend. It's said that she convinced the king of Babylon to make her regent for the day, and when he did, she ordered that he be killed, resulting in one of history's quickest and cleverest coup d'etats. Once in power, she vastly expanded the empire by sheer, brute military force.